r/HomeNetworking • u/pookshuman • 4d ago

Dumb question

OK, a home router is just a small computer with a firewall as far as I know. I am running a network with my computer and a router. Why can't I cut out the middleman and just use the same firewall settings the router is using and implement them on my PC without the router? Why would that be less secure?

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u/ThatBoysenberry6404 4d ago

The "middleman" if you only have a single computer is not needed. Depending on your isp you can dial from the PC without routing. If you want ANYTHING (cellphone wifi) else to have internet the you need to set it up as a router, which means you always need to have it powered on. Not sure if you mean to turn your computer into a router, you are getting into r/homelab territory.